Nomads RFC

For the club founded in 1868 that was a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, see Marlborough Nomads.

Nomads RFC

Snail
Club information
Full name	Nomads Rugby Football Club
Website	www.nomadsrfc.com
Colours	Black and red irregular hoops
Founded	1978
Current details
Ground(s)	Furze Lane
Competition	Hampshire 2

Nomads Rugby Football Club currently plays in Hampshire 1 League, England.

History

Nomads RFC, now known as Southsea Nomads RFC, was formed in May 1978 by a group of players who were all formerly members of the now defunct Portsmouth Civil Service RFC. That club disbanded at the end of season ‘77-78 and some players not wishing to join other local clubs decided to form one of their own. So with a meeting held at the “Old House at Home” Paulsgrove, Nomads RFC was born.

The name was chosen because we had no home and the logo of a Snail wearing a scrum cap soon followed, as a snail is a Nomad who carries its home on its back.

Some of the original members are still around the club (Barry Bridgman, Colin Few ~ President, Ken Walker, Garry Barter, Nicky Cadle, Terry Welsh...).

Nomads have had several temporary homes over the years and we will always be grateful for the use of The “John Barleycorn”, Great Southsea St., which was our first and now has been turned into a private dwelling. The Royal Sailors Home Club, Queen Street from 1981 and Watersedge Park Community Centre which became our clubhouse from 1987.

We have also played at three different grounds, starting at Farlington, being moved by the council to Alexandra Park, then to the Eastern Road Sailing Centre Ground (the best) and then back to Farlington. Our home now is the Portsmouth University ground at the end of Locksway Road, with our Clubhouse being the "Old House at Home" pub not far from it.

Over the years they have played Rugby against all and sundry. They were founder members of the then Courage Leagues in 1989, forming part of the Hampshire league set up.

They were the first club in Hampshire to form and run a Women’s team, though this team disbanded at the end of the 1999-2000 season.

They have run three sides for Men in the past (including a veterans team) but are reduced to two now as there seems to be a general reduction in the numbers of people playing Rugby.

Over the past 21 years they have encouraged talented young players to go the bigger clubs in the area and they have gone on to play some very good rugby, even at County level. Kevin Darnley of Portsmouth started with Nomads, as did Douggie Setchell of Gosport, Robbie Allsopp, Tony Armstrong of Havant and most recently John Brothers of Trojans.

Whilst they have an appetite and commitment to winning as much as possible, a big part of Nomad’s ethos is to remain a friendly, sociable, family club, hopefully one day having a clubhouse of our own.

The side is currently (2011–2012) in Hampshire Division One, led by skipper Chris Groves.

Club Motto

RELINQUE NUMQUAM MULSUM ADIACENTEM which, very roughly translates to "never leave your beer loafing".. fair warning!

See also

• Nomads Rugby (Toronto Nomads RFC)
• Rugby Union
• Rugby Football Union
• Marlborough Nomads

External links

• Hampshire Rugby
• Nomads RFC